What's the best way to scan and save vital records

I'm scanning a whole stack of vital records. How should I save them? Should I scan and save them as photos (.jpg or .png)? Of should I scan and save them as documents (.pdf or .rtf)? I know they'll be much smaller files if I scan them as documents, but I have plenty of storage space so I'm not concerned about file size. What I am concerned about it quality, and which way is the best way to digital preserve these vital records for prosperity. Any advice will be welcomed. Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Kate Wagner on April 24, 2012 at 8:47am

I'm done and out of this. You appear to have a lot of time on your hands and want to use it to argue.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Perry on April 24, 2012 at 9:23am

Thanks, Kate. I agree with you. Now that you've confirmed what I was taught, I will continue to scan my documents as .pdf files. But instead of also scanning and saving them as .png files, I will take your advice and use .tiff instead.

Permalink Reply by Melinda on July 19, 2012 at 5:42pm

Hi Chris,

Perhaps you would like to join Erin Bradford this evening for her chat, the last of her series about Preservation: Tools and Resources. She'll be available for questions on the other topics she talked about as well, including her chat on preserving digital media which she did last week, which may address some of your questions. Then, you are invited to stay in the room for general chat. We'd love to meet you. Here's the link to the chat topics:

http://www.genealogywise.com/page/chat-schedule

Melinda